My Name is Eileen and I am 25 years old, and I live in Coatbridge, Scotland. I have had both Epilepsy/NEAD for almost 8 years now.
It has become part of my everyday life for I never know the minute when an attack is going to happen.
I experience memory loss, loss of vision, hearing, speech, paralysis, extremely bad headaches, blackouts, convulsions to mention a few.
In the early days of my condition I was experiencing up to 14 seizures a day, but even though I have both I have never let them stop me from living the life I want to live.
Yes I am limited in some respects and have to watch what I am doing, but I have never let them get me down.
I am a mother to a wonderful little boy called Jamie who certainly keeps me on my toes.
I am a domestic cleaner, not the most glam of jobs but pays the bills but I am also a freelance musician which I love doing. I get a buzz watching people enjoying themselves and making them smile.
I have these conditions because of extreme bullying I experienced when I was younger, with the amount of punches and kicks I got to my head but I have also experienced other traumatic experiences. I also lost my father when I was only 7 years old.
I am not looking for sympathy, pity or for someone to feel sorry for me. Even through it all, I have came out the other end a stronger woman and have not let my traumatic experiences ruin my life.
I am writing this story to help others and reassure them that they are not alone, but to also help spread awareness about this condition so others can read and understand that even though we are suffers of NEAD, Epilepsy or both we are normal, everyday people.
We are not different, strange or nutters - we are just "Special Individuals".
I am a sufferer, but I am a survivor.
Thank you for reading my story.
May your guardian angel watch over and protect you all always......Love Eileen xx